IND A vs ENG A: Spin it to win it and Issy Wong's comeback

Issy Wong was the star of the show as England A managed to get the better of India A by winning the T20 series 2-1 at the Wankhede Stadium. After their loss in the opening game, England A responded in stunning fashion to win the remaining games with some stunning display from Wong.

Spin it to win it

Wankhede’s pitch turned out to be a spinners’ paradise in the series. Both the sides struggled against the turning ball and fell victim to the slower bowlers. In the first T20, India A lost only three of their seven wickets to spinners, while Charlie Dean’s side conceded five of their eight wickets to the tweakers.

The trend of spinners dominating continued in the second game as England A took six of India’s nine wickets with the help of spin. Minnu Mani-led side claimed three of England’s six wickets courtesy of her spinners. In the final game, while defending a total of 101 runs, India A’s spinners took control of the innings by dismissing six of England’s eight batters.

Kirstie Gordon got the better of Indian batters on six occasions through the series. The left-arm spinner took one wicket in the first game, three in the second, and two in the final encounter. For India A, Shreyanka Patil and Minnu took five wickets each in the series. Patil’s performances earned her a place in India’s squad for the T20I series against England.

India call-ups for Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Mannat Kashyap

Experienced hand from Armitage

Hollie Armitage is the oldest member in the England A squad. The 26-year-old finished the series as the top run-getter with 92 runs. Her half-century in the first T20 almost won England A the game, but once she was dismissed for 52, the visitors struggled and eventually fell short of the target.

Captaining the side in Dean’s absence in the third match, Armitage played an important knock of 27 runs while the middle order was collapsing. Her 30-run partnership with Seren Smale kept the England A dugout calm. Armitage’s experience and her ability to play under pressure was evident throughout the series.

Wong - The winner

Issy Wong surely caught everyone’s attention with her match-winning performances in the series. Even though she was costly with the ball, Wong was the hero for England A in the second T20 with the bat. . She finished the game in style as she hit 35 runs off 15 balls with a strike rate of 233.33. 

The Mumbai Indians fast bowler was also instrumental in England A’s win in the third T20. She took two wickets and played a key role with the bat when her side was dire straits. Her 28 runs in 30 balls ensured England A ended the low-scoring thriller and the series on a winning note.

Wong received the Player of the Match award on both the occasions for her clutch performances. Unsurprisingly, Wong was the Player of the Series in all senses.